Takeover calls time on family brewer

BEER campaigners mourned the passing of another family-run brewer today after Greene King agreed a £45.6m deal for Essex-based TD Ridley.

The acquisition ends 160 years of independence for Ridley's, which has an estate of 73 pubs and brews cask ales, including Old Bob and Tolly Original.

The company's brewery employing 45 people at Hartford End, near Chelmsford is set to close as Greene King plans to transfer the brewing of most of Ridley's brands to its own operation at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) expressed concern at the deal, particularly as it said it would reduce choice for drinkers in Essex and East Anglia.

The deal comes just months after another regional brewer, Lake District-based operator Jennings, was acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries.

Camra spokesman Iain Loe said: 'At one time every town had at least one or two brewers but now there are counties that don't have their own regional family-owned brewer.'

Greene King, which has been brewing and operating pubs for more than 200 years, has more than 2,000 sites and is best known for Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen. As it also brews IPA, the brewer said it would stop making Ridley's own version of the India Pale Ale.

Nicholas Ridley, chairman of Ridley's, indicated it had been a difficult decision to pass over control of the brewer. He said: 'After many years of running the company as a local independent business, and following long deliberation by the board, we now believe Ridley needs to become part of a larger group. We view Greene King as the best owner to develop our business for the future.'

Camra chief executive Mike Benner said: 'A new generation of national brewers has been created and is a threat to consumer choice. Takeovers rarely lead to benefits for consumers and invariably lead to erosion of consumer choice and breweries close and beers are axed.'

Camra also pressed Greene King to reverse the closure plan for the Essex brewery, which dates back 163 years. Mr Benner added: 'Are we to see a new housing development on the site of this remarkable Victorian brewery?

'Greene King should show they care about Britain's heritage and the views of beer drinkers and attempt to sell the brewery to someone who can use it to brew beer.'

The deal was announced a year after Greene King picked up 432 community and traditional town pubs from Laurel. The latest acquisition boosts the company's presence in the Essex area, where the business is still under-represented, a spokesman said.

Chief executive Rooney Anand added: 'Ridley's has a high quality pub estate, some popular ale brands and a sound local free trade business. The business is ideally located in a strongly developed part of the country which is close to the centre of our operations.'

In the 12 months to the end of September last year, Ridley's reported sales of £15.1m and operating profits before exceptional items of £500,000.